Hello readers! Life is getting even busier for me during the summer. For one thing, I've started and am continuing driving practice. I've also started my first job and I've gotten a debit card super recently! I'm even going to be starting an SAT math camp in a few days. It'll be four days a week and three hours a day, and I'll be working at my new job on the one weekday when I don't have my math camp. I'm so excited by all of these changes, but it's a lot to be dealing with, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to come up with new ideas and post. That being said, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! :)

Chapter 9: Friend or Foe?

Rosie sighed. "Oh Victor, don't stop."

Snogging Victor after a long day always felt blissful.

"Mm, you know I never want to stop."

Rosie chuckled. "Neither do I, but we'll have to put a pin in our plans for now. I made plans with Danny after school."

Victor sighed. "Aw, babe, you made plans again with him so soon? I was looking forward to spending time with you today."

"I know, but I haven't gotten to spend much time with him since he's had to catch up, and I didn't get to see him over the summer. Danny also worked so hard to get his work done so we could hang out this weekend."

"I get that, you know I do. It's just that, I missed you a lot while I was visiting my family. I'd honestly have rather spent that time with you."

Rosie smiled. "It's sweet you think of me so highly-"

"Rose, you matter the most to me-"

"-but I want to spend time with my cousin as well! You know I love spending time with you, but I want to be with Danny too. He won't be in London permanently, unlike you."

Victor's smile was strained. "Rosie, you know I love you so much. I just worry a lot about you. I want the best for you, and Danny just seems a bit, you know, flighty and unfocused? He just seems like he's constantly distracted & thinking about other things when he's hanging out with us, and it kinda comes off as uncaring, don't you think?"

Rosie tilted her head to the side, thinking about Victor's words. He did have a point. Danny was getting a lot more distracted these days, and it seemed like he was thinking about something else and keeping it a secret from her. But still…

"Look, I get what you're saying, really, but I honestly think that Danny is acting off because of all of the changes that happened this year. For one, his best friends couldn't come on the exchange program. Also, it's high school now, and Danny had a tough time at home with his schoolwork. He doesn't exactly have the most normal family life, and a lot of things happened back at his home in Amity Park."

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

Rosie grimaced. The ghosts had been mentioned in the news, but the stories so far had been passed off as fake (for now, thank god) and she hadn't told Victor about the professions of Danny's parents. A part of her didn't want him to get involved, and she had listened to that part of herself.

"It's not important. The point is, neither of us should be going against Danny. He's been my friend since I was really little, and I know he has a good heart. Things have changed a lot this year, and we should all be supportive of one another."

Victor didn't seem completely convinced, but smiled nonetheless. "Alright, point taken. Now, let's change the topic to something more interesting, eh?" He stepped forward, putting on a flirtatious grin and putting his hands on Rosie's shoulders.

Rosie chuckled. "Alright Casanova, what did you have in mind?"

Victor smirked. "How about another session?"

Rosie looked down at her watch and frowned. "Actually, I should get going. I'll be late otherwise."

Victor pouted. "Aw, can't you be a bit late for me Rose?" He pulled her closer and their noses brushed.

"V-Vic, I-I've been late home the past few days-"

"So what? A few minutes never hurt anyone. C'mon, don't be such a stick in the mud."

Rosie sighed but smiled nonetheless. "A-Alright, I guess a few minutes won't hurt."

Danny sighed. "Oh universe, make my suffering stop!"

"HAHAHA! Foolish Ghost Child, you cannot escape the mighty force that is Technus, the master of technology!"

Danny dodged another hit from Technus' mechanical suit, which was a combination of stray cars and trash from the junkyard they were fighting in. He looked down at his watch, his eyes widening at the time.

"Shit, I'm going to be late!"

"The only thing you will be late for is an eternity of suffering at the hands of-"

"-I so don't have time for this."

"HEY! Do not interrupt me while I am-"

Danny concentrated his blasts, flying around quickly and shooting different parts of Technus' suit. A minute, the suit was reduced to rubble and Technus' screams could be heard from his thermos.

"You may have defeated me this time, ghost child, but you will not-"

"-Oh shut it!" Danny rattled his thermos so Technus would stay quiet. He looked at his watch and groaned. "Damn it, Rosie's going to kill me!"

Danny put on a burst of speed and headed home as fast as he could. Of course, he had to transform in an abandoned ally and blend into a crowd so Mycroft's CCTV cameras wouldn't catch him, which only made him more late.

Danny rushed through the door to 221B and up the stairs. As he unlocked the door, Danny burst into the front room, shouting, "I am so sorry I'm late, the streets were so crowded please don't kill me-"

only to find that Rosie wasn't there.

Danny blinked, then blinked again.

*sigh* "Not again. This happened last week, and this is the fourth time this week! I'm betting it's Victor who's made her late again, too."

At first, Danny didn't mind (and was even relieved by) Rosie being late. It helped when there were ghost attacks he couldn't ignore which made him late getting home. But things were starting to reach a concerning point as it kept happening over and over again. Every time, Rosie said the same name.

"Sorry, Victor needed some last minute help!"

"Oh sorry, Victor and I were together and I lost track of time!"

"I'm so sorry, I had put my homework in my bag, but Victor took it out so he could make sure it was correct! I got sidetracked when I went back to get it."

Story after story. Excuse after excuse.

Danny was starting to get concerned. Rosie was spending more and more of her free time with Victor, more than what he thought was healthy for anyone. Even Uncle Sherlock and Uncle John spent a good amount of time doing their own things.

Things didn't seem right to him. Yet, who was he to interfere? He had never been in a romantic relationship before, and maybe this was how first relationships were. Danny also had problems of his own to deal with. How Rosie spent her time seemed small in terms of ghost invasions in London.

He wondered how all these ghosts were getting to London in the first place…

"Hey Danny! Sorry I'm late, I got caught up with Victor again!"

Danny snapped back into the moment, forgetting what he was thinking of. "It's no problem. You seem to be late a lot as of lately, though…"

"Oh come on, a few minutes never hurt anyone! Besides, I'm here now, aren't I? Don't be such a stick in the mud!"

Danny blinked in shock. He had never heard Rosie talking like this. He supposed it was because she had had a long day (though a part of him wondered if it was Victor's influence).

Danny brushed off the outburst, putting on a smile. "Hey, it's all good! Being a few minutes late is fine, I'm just not used to it from you. It's all cool, though. Why don't we watch some more episodes of Lucifer?"

Rosie smiled. "That would be lovely. Sorry for snapping, I'm just a bit tired after school. I'll set up the telly, and you can grab some snacks and make tea. Sounds good?"

Danny nodded, walking into the kitchen to get some food and putting the kettle on. A few minutes later, the tea and snacks were ready. Danny put the food and mugs onto a tray and carried it out to the sitting room. Rosie smiled as she saw him walk in, the TV already set up and on the current episode they were watching.

"Fantastic. Here, come sit down next to me."

Danny smiled, setting the tray on the coffee table and sitting down next to her. Rosie and Danny laughed together and commented on the absurdity of the show as they were watching it.

Danny chuckled softly as he watched Rosie out of the corner of his eye. She looked so vibrant and cheerful. He never wanted her smile to be wiped off her face. Danny would destroy anyone who even thought of hurting Rosie.

His thoughts flashed back to Victor, and he let out a small sigh. Danny wasn't sure what to think about him. His behavior was certainly suspect. Still, he wasn't about to sound the alarm over Rosie spending some more time with him.

For now, he would wait and act natural.

Hmm, I wonder what will happen next with good old Victor and the ghosts...Anyways, I hope you all keep enjoying your summer break!

Signing off once more, milyash2131 :)